Trotters to rival Foxes for Davies

24 January 2009 09:40

Davies currently on loan at Leicester was left out of the Foxes' squad for their home game against Huddersfield on Saturday but Nigel Pearson has made a bid to keep the 20-year-old at the Walkers Stadium.

And Davies, who has has turned down the offer of a new contract at Molineux, has now emerged as a target for Premier League side Bolton.

"We have had bids from both Leicester and Bolton for Mark. We actually want to keep him and have offered him a new deal, but he doesn't want to stay and has put in a transfer request," said McCarthy following Wolves' 2-1 FA Cup defeat by Middlesbrough.

Davies was considered a superb prospect when he first made the breakthrough from Wanderers' academy four years ago.

He was regarded as the club's best home-grown product since Robbie Keane by then-Wolves academy director Chris Evans, who is now on the coaching staff at Bolton.

Davies was handed his first-team chance under Glenn Hoddle and became something of a regular over the latter half of the 2005/06 season.

But a pre-season knee injury only a fortnight after McCarthy took over as manager in July 2006 put his career on hold and he missed the whole of last season.

He marked his comeback with a goal in Wolves' 3-2 win over Accrington in the Carling Cup first round in August.

He joined Leicester - managed by Pearson, who he worked with at England youth level - in November, where he has since earned rave reviews.

McCarthy added: "It's a real shame because he has come through our academy and is a good player but hadn't played for almost two years due to injury. He eventually gets fit and goes out to Leicester and has done well and now wants to leave.

"It's kind of sad that he sees his future elsewhere but, if the deal is correct, then we will do it.

"I don't know what has happened with the bids as I don't deal with that side of things but I imagine negotiations will be taking place."

If Davies does leave, Wolves will be entitled to compensation as he is under the age of 24.